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RV Electrics Demystified
According to Collyn Rivers, author of the recently published Motorhome Electrics & Caravans Too, "Caravan, campervan and motorhome electrical systems are often an unsatisfactory compromise between cost and performance.". He adds, "They are put together from components intended to provide electricity for moving vehicles, not those at reset. As a direct result, most provide and store only sufficient energy for one or two nights. Extending this use overly discharges the batteries, seriously reducing their life and capacity. These problems are worsened in irregularly used vehicles. "Compounding this there is a lack of competent service Auto-electrical training doesn't include solar powered systems, and solar technicians rarely understand vehicle charging systems. In recreational vehicles, these systems interact and it can be difficult to find anyone who can rectify subsequent faults." Many Caravan World readers will be able to relate to Collyn's comments, unless they are fortunate enough to have an electrical system that has been installed by one of the few true experts in this field. New caravan buyers expect a system that works exactly like the one at home, but what they get often fails to live up to expectations. And unless they are far more knowledgeable about electrical matters than the average "newbie", the reason for this will elude them. In his 102 page book, Collyn Rivers bridges the knowledge gap by explaining how systems work, identifying common faults and warning against unrealistic expectations. He shows how problems can be fixed - or avoided. This very comprehensive book is generously illustrated with photos, tables and diagrams. As well as providing a course in basic electrics and defining the problems, it deals separately with the workings of just about every electrical appliance used in caravans and motorhomes, and all the ancillary bits and pieces such as alternators, regulators, generators, batteries and solar modules. Although most of the associated problems are common to both motorhomes and caravans, there's a separate chapter covering those that are peculiar to vans - or compounded by that extra distance between battery and charging source. Collyn Rivers' last publication, The Campervan and Motorhome Book was reviewed in the January 2002 issue of Caravan World. Motorhome Electrics & Caravans Too
can be obtained directly from Collyn, |
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